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jfarsang Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008 Posts: 177 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:52 pm Post subject: $400-500 Edgestar 12/120V replacement fridge |
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I've been hunting high and low for the past year for a replacement fridge in our westy and to put a permanent fridge in our Delica.
At first I was going to go with an Engle or ARB 45L but then the price put me off. Just couldn't justify it.
I came across this fridge on expedition portal and spoke with a few people who have used them overlanding. Feedback was good and it's considered a great bang for the buck to have a permanent fridge that doesn't suck much juice and keeps everything cool or frozen.
I bought mine at livingdirect.com which is a sister co. of compactappliance.com
They are made in Texas (Edgestar) and here's the link :
http://www.edgestar.com/products/fridgefreeze/fp430.asp
Both have outstanding customer service and warranty.
Here's my little review since we just came back from a short trip with lots of offroading, highway miles logged at temps below freezing and above 40 celcius.
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Took a week off and went for a road trip with the lady.
Temps ranged from 30 to 104 *F.
Up here in the Pacific northwest, we get it all.
We went from Vancouver, BC to Kelowna to Banff, AB at 30 and snow and crossed over to the Fraser canyon off 100 mile house where it hit a steady 104.
During the whole trip, the Edgestar (45 version) worked great. Set it to 35 and it hovered between 36-37 the whole time. Bought some fresh pie and wine and loved the idea of just tossing it into the fridge as we went along.
We did some nice offroading where I had to air down to 10psi to make the climb and that thing was bouncing everywhere. Never stopped working.
Three thumbs up.
Thread that started it all :
Cheap Fridge <$400 shipped
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23350
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_________________ '86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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jfarsang Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008 Posts: 177 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Review by another person
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=65918
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After dealing with standard coolers, melting ice and soggy food under less than ideal methods of refrigeration while on the trail and camping, I decided it was time to spring for a portable electric Freezer/Fridge. I had heard about the EdgeStar fridge on another forum and the folks that had been using that brand were quite happy with the product. I did some research on my own and found that the EdgeStar brand of products are from Texas and built in China. They are assembled with high-quality parts and have a good reputation.
The size I opted for holds 43 Quarts and will hold 60, 12 oz cans. It's the smallest EdgeStar portable freezer/fridge, Model# Model FP430. (Other options are 63 Quarts and 86 Quarts.) It's a bit on the large size, but once you get it loaded with food and drinks for a few days, the size becomes quite welcome. The outer dimensions are as follows-
Height: 20.8
Width: 24.7
Depth: 17.7
Weight is 45 lbs.
Pics for reference-
The EdgeStar is built with quality hardware, a spring-loaded carrying handle on each side, a pair of heavy duty hinges, a spring-loaded locking latch and a couple of wire baskets for placing food items into. The baskets are very handy, as you can load your food into them without having to take the fridge out of the vehicle. There are also 2 drain plugs, one on the inside and one on the outside, for defrosting and cleaning out the inside of the fridge.
The EdgeStar freezer/fridge has 2 power plugs, one for 12v or 24v DC power from a vehicle (by way of a plug for your cigarette lighter)and another for household power with a 115v AC plug for home use. Using 12V power, the unit draws 4.5 Amps. It is very quiet, I rarely hear it kick on and off. If we're traveling, the noise from the vehicle will drown out and noise the freezer/fridge may be making. If you stand right next to it, you will hear it the compressor and fan turn on and off, but even right next to it, the sounds are minimal.
The temperature control panel on the side is simple, yet allows some good options. The freezer/fridge has a operating range from -8* to 50* Fahrenheit. It also has a Fast Freeze option, which will quickly bring the temperature down to -8* when you need to quickly freeze food. You can set your desired temperature with the control panel. I've been setting it at 38*, because the temperature will fluctuate up and down a few degrees as the fridge kicks on and off and temps in the car change.
The case of the freezer/fridge is very well insulated, it will maintain the internal temperature for several hours without power. I've been impressed with how cool food stayed over night after being unplugged. One of the neat features is that the EdgeStar will shut off if the battery is run down too far. If the battery dips below 10.4V, the freezer/fridge will shut off. Once power is restored to the battery, the EdgeStar won't turn back on until after reaching 11.8V.
With the freezer/fridge plugged in safely at home, I did some tests to see how long I could run the fridge and still start the vehicle. I let the EdgeStar run overnight and attempted to start my FJ80 24 hrs later. It fired right up without a problem. I shut it off quickly, so as to not fully recharge the battery. I let the vehicle sit for another 24 hrs and tried again... 48 hrs with the fridge running and not letting the battery charge and the engine turned over normally and fired right up.
After 72 hrs, the freezer/fridge was registering low voltage and no longer maintaining the temperature. The indicator light on the side was flashing yellow, indicating the low power. The digital temperature display still functioned, but showed the increasing temp. I'm very pleased that the freezer/fridge will run for 48 hours without draining the battery and preventing the vehicle from starting! These tests were conducted using a Orbital dry cell battery. |
cont..
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Here's the freezer/fridge loaded into my FJ80, so you can get a better idea of the size.-
I've been using the EdgeStar for several months and a handful of trips and it has been one of the best additions I've made to our vehicle. It's very nice to have cold food and drinks after a couple days out on the trail. Keeping perishables cold means eating good while away from home! The one complaint I have is the short 12v power cord. It comes with a 6' cord, which wasn't long enough to reach the power plug in the dash. After some wire cutting and crimping, I added additional wire to reach from the back where the fridge is mounted, to the power plug in the dashboard.
One of the many ways we're excited to use it is while fishing in Baja... we can freeze our catch and keep it fresh for the long drive home after the trip. I haven't tried it yet, but I hear ice cream is the best during a hot day on the trail. I'm quite pleased and would easily buy one again. I paid $380 from CompactAppliance.com when it was on sale. Normal price is $400.
Here's a link to the EdgeStar and the 43 Quart cooler for all specs-
http://www.edgestar.com/products/fridgefreeze/fp430.asp
After a recent search, it looks like this model may be out of production. If you are interested in purchasing one, I'd recommend contacting EdgeStar directly, or Compact Appliance, as they are the official vendor.
I cannot comment on how the EdgeStar compares to the ARB freezer/fridge or the Engel, as I have not owned either before. I would hope that the EdgeStar is comparable, but only time will tell if this is truly a quality product. |
_________________ '86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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oh man, that is a beautiful Delica, great pictures, super neat! _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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jfarsang Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008 Posts: 177 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:58 am Post subject: |
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follow up
It's dead quite when it runs. We can't hear it run if we're sleeping up top in the westy. Huge plus for the lady as she was complaining with our truckfridge one before.
Duty cycle/ah rate is very low. I set it at 37 and it only hovers give or take 1-2 degrees regardless of outside ambient temps.
With the fridge full, I could only hear it cycle maybe 6 times yesterday throughout the day. Barely sips any mah from the house battery.
This is a great alternative to the ARB and Engel fridges. _________________ '86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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jfarsang Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008 Posts: 177 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:41 am Post subject: |
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250+ views and not a single comment on the fridge.
We have 4 westies locally running the edgestars now. Must be a canadian thing. _________________ '86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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tomnglo Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 28 Location: Pismo Beach
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Turk.380 Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2009 Posts: 320 Location: St. Louis
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: |
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forget the fridge, I want your Delica!!!
that thing is BAD AZZ. It reminds me of my "Stomper" trucks from childhood! _________________ Brian W
St. Louis, MO
'64 SO-33 Hatch Top Westy | '87 Syncro Westy: Subaru EZ30D powered | 2002 VW Winnebago Vista |
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jfarsang Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2008 Posts: 177 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:07 am Post subject: |
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tomnglo wrote: |
Tried to research some on the fridge but was not able to find alot other than what was posted. |
Here you go. Real world experience from others :
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23350 _________________ '86 Westy 2.1
'94 TD Delica spacegear
'86 TD Syncro camper - gone to a good home
'72 Baja bug (project) - can't seem to leave us
'92 TD Delica camper - gone to a good home |
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squeegee_boy Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2008 Posts: 758 Location: Langley, BC, Canada
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 9:29 am Post subject: |
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jfarsang wrote: |
250+ views and not a single comment on the fridge.
We have 4 westies locally running the edgestars now. Must be a canadian thing. |
Soon to be 5 My vitrofrigo is awesome, but not big enough for a family of 4 for a week if we're somewhere remote.
Thanks for this info! I was also thinking of an Engel, but they're hundreds more than what I consider reasonable
Robyn _________________ 1984 FrankenSyncro Westy. EJ25 RMW kit
1971 Super Beetle with an EJ22. Oh yes. Daily driver |
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madspaniard Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008 Posts: 3795 Location: Alameda, CA
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Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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The Engel units are very nice. If the Edgestar has the same performance for less money then this is a no braier. I have one of those new 12v/110v fridges but if my family grows to 2 or more kids I'll end up buying one of these removable fridges to add more cooling room to my westy. _________________ 1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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FNGRUVN Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2007 Posts: 2237 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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We love ours, so far. Quiet and easy on the battery. _________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin |
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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Anybody measure the current draw?
I do not see the spec in the manual. _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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tarandusVDub Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010 Posts: 1649 Location: Between Here and There
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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I don't see an obvious way to secure it to the floor of the van...have to add D rings or something to keep it in place on rough roads, accident, etc. Looks nice though. _________________ 1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
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Farfrumwork Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2008 Posts: 692 Location: Mile High
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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FNGRUVN wrote: |
We love ours, so far. Quiet and easy on the battery. |
DITTO here. One of the best mods yet. Wife LOVES it, even after the sticker shock of a fridge and a 2nd deep cycle battery setup.
"Worth every penny" was the quote.
I got a open box/scratch & dent 43qt.
I have some tie downs to bolt into the van, then it'll be nice and secure. It is heavy enough (esp with food packed) to hold tight most of the time, but a 'locked and low' hill climb last weekend jostled it enough to move it a foot or so.
I will go around the fridge with a strap, though the handles. I would NOT use the handles alone (as pictured in the back of a truck above) I don't think those handles are that strong.
I also hard wired the 12v line so I don't use the plug that sits in the walk way - that would NOT last long as you WILL step on it repeatedly. Mine routes internal around the compressor and pops out the back side. Slick. _________________ sold -> '85 Wolfsburg Syncro / 'Built' DOHC EJ25 (a great machine!)
'07 Legacy spec.B, road tuned stgII
'17 4x4 Sprinter, stone grey, SMB pop-top, on 33"s
"Blood stains, speed kills - Fast cars, cheap thrills - Rich girls, fine wine - I've lost my sense, I've lost control, I've lost my mind" |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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r39o Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005 Posts: 9800 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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Timwhy wrote: |
r39o wrote: |
Anybody measure the current draw?
I do not see the spec in the manual. |
Mine is 5.1 amps at start up and decreases after that for 15 to 20 minute cycles |
Peak current is 2.5A / 35 Qt and 3.6 / 64 Qt on the Engel (depending on model,) via spec and what people say.
Some models lower and some higher. Bigger is higher, but not 5.1 A for any of them, I read.
Supposed to be as little as 700ma.
i have to measure as my Engel just got here.
How low does it go? _________________ "Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)
Last edited by r39o on Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:59 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Steelhead Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1791 Location: Kentfield, CA
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Timwhy wrote: |
This how I have mine secured to the floor.
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seat belt for the jumpseat won't reach? _________________ '77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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unplannedbbq Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2012 Posts: 228 Location: NC
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:05 am Post subject: |
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tarandusVDub wrote: |
I don't see an obvious way to secure it to the floor of the van...have to add D rings or something to keep it in place on rough roads, accident, etc. Looks nice though. |
The edgestar feet can be modified to work in an Engel transit slide lock - a couple folks on expeditionportal have done it.
I'm building a ~6" drawer/box with roughly the same footprint as my 43qt edgestar. Strorage box will mount where my "factory" weekender fridge mounted behind the front passenger seat, and I plan to "bolt through" the top of my box into the threaded foot-holes in the fridge. Not as quick as the engel slide lock, but it should look clean when all is said and done. I can also use the extra storage underneath the fridge.
If the fridge is full, cold, and you keep it closed it has minimal draw - I set it to OF when driving, then 35F when the engine is off... it only draws ~0.7amp at the beginning, then 1.5 amp after a couple hours on a hot summer day in the shade as things start to warm up. I have not started it full and warm.
One common problem with the edgestar - the supplied 12v plug is a bit flimsy. I did a preemptive fix - rewired a quick connect in place of the cigarette-lighter end. Works great and is less bulky.
Regards,
Joe _________________ '86 x-1wd, now w/ 2wd! Wolfsburg Weekender
"However not an ideal swap unless it was all you had and you needed to escape some distopian 3rd world country." - Mongoswede |
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